Preview — Drawn
by Marie Lamba

Drawn

She’s the artist that finds him in her drawings. He’s the medieval ghost that conquers her heart. And their time is running out.

Michelle De Freccio moves with her dad to England, where she hopes for a more normal life. Instead she discovers a handsome guy appearing in all her sketches. When she actually meets him at the town's castle, she's unmistakably drawn to him. But sShe’s the artist that finds him in her drawings. He’s the medieval ghost that conquers her heart. And their time is running out.

Michelle De Freccio moves with her dad to England, where she hopes for a more normal life. Instead she discovers a handsome guy appearing in all her sketches. When she actually meets him at the town's castle, she's unmistakably drawn to him. But something is definitely not normal.

He wears medieval garb, talks of ancient murders, and tends to disappear with a kiss. Could he be a ghost? Could Michelle be losing her mind? Or has she simply uncovered a love so timeless it's spanned the centuries......more

Community Reviews

Drawn has it all, 3 guys who are completely different, a castle, ghosts, an Earl who is in a spot of trouble, lest he know it, a girl who has a complicated family and a love that can endure centuries.

Marie has used art in the most wonderful way in this book. Michelle De Freccio is an American living in England. Her mother a psychic/fortune teller, up and left her family, her brother Wayne has some issues and her father can’t afford to lose another fMICHELLE'S REVIEW:

RATING : 4 CHRISTOPHER STARS!

Drawn has it all, 3 guys who are completely different, a castle, ghosts, an Earl who is in a spot of trouble, lest he know it, a girl who has a complicated family and a love that can endure centuries.

Marie has used art in the most wonderful way in this book. Michelle De Freccio is an American living in England. Her mother a psychic/fortune teller, up and left her family, her brother Wayne has some issues and her father can’t afford to lose another family member.

Then there are 3 guys. Roger I really like. I would have liked to know more about him. He has his own thing going on, but he is always there for Michelle. He’s a bit of a cranky pants, but ...read on.

Christopher is a ghost in modern time, but doing his own thing in his time. Michelle draws him and she somehow gets chosen to be a part of his life in parts during the book.

Then, we have William. He is your typical posh prat, then things start to change , he doesn’t want to play by daddy’s rules. We start to see a different, more improved William, a William willing to risk a lot to help Michelle, who wants to help Christopher.

I would have liked to have known a bit more about Wayne, I was curious about some things Wayne said about Christopher and what went on with the voices.

I enjoyed Marie using reference to ‘Back To The Future’, it helped give the reader the idea of what would happen with Michelle being back in Christopher’s time and the things she does to help, could rewrite history.

Marie added a couple great twists to her story, I really enjoyed those. I may have liked a bit more time spent on the end as that fell in to place reasonably quickly. I really liked how she brought her ending about. She satisfied some questions I had and was wondering how it was going to all play out.

I enjoyed Marie’s tale of 2 ghosts, depending on who was in who’s time, and a love that spanned centuries, and the mystery that unfolded. Her use of art in her writing style was really very good. What I mean is the way she sketches, lines and shading, angles etc, when she is describing a scene or a person she uses this type of thing in her words to describe something. It’s like you are getting a clearer picture.

Drawn was an enjoyable read and I wish Marie all the continual success with her writing.

FAVE QUOTES:

With his pale-green eyes fixed on me, he dumps the contents of my bag. "What weapon is this?" He holds up my sharpener. I stick my pencil into the sharpener and turn it a few times. Pull it out and blow on the tip. He squints."What is this?" I narrow my eyes , take my Chapstick from his fingers, pop off the top and coat my lips. "Really dangerous." "This?" He holds up a tampon. "God , enough." I dare to push away the dagger point, grab the tampon from his hand and start shoving things back into my bag. "You're nuts, you know that? Or I am . One of us is, that's for sure."

DRAWN is a unique young adult novel that grabs you and spins you into different worlds and time. It takes you on a journey to a place where love and loss collide, and blend together to powerfully change the future.

Young artist Michelle De Freccio moves to England with her father yearning to leave her tainted family’s past behind. She soon discovers not only does it follow her, but a boy in her sketches starts appearing before her at the local castle. Is he real or is she going crazy like her motDRAWN is a unique young adult novel that grabs you and spins you into different worlds and time. It takes you on a journey to a place where love and loss collide, and blend together to powerfully change the future.

Young artist Michelle De Freccio moves to England with her father yearning to leave her tainted family’s past behind. She soon discovers not only does it follow her, but a boy in her sketches starts appearing before her at the local castle. Is he real or is she going crazy like her mother and brother? Christopher Newman, a boy from the 1400s, quickly steals her heart but history claims him to be a murderer. Is he? Michelle’s heart says no. And if he is innocent can she change history? In a race against time she seeks to stop his own death, and possibly her own, while facing a love she may lose forever.

There is a wonderful blend of secondary characters in this book that are bound together by friendship, romance, ego, and envy that heighten the tension of the story. All have strengths and flaws, none are stereotypical, and each chapter gives you a different insight into their motivations. Michelle, drawn into the mystery surrounding her and Christopher, is forced to seek aid from these other characters. And at times it’s hard for her to discern who is friend and who is foe, adding to the intrigue. We’re compelled to care even more for Michelle, as she eventually feels utterly isolated and alone in the perilous mystery she must unravel.

The castle in DRAWN has a yearning, aching heart all its own. Marie Lamba beautifully creates a seamless feel to the story within the castle as Christopher and Michelle’s lives become entangled between centuries. As a reader, I floated between these worlds with the two lovers, wanting them to be together – but in which world? And which one would give up everything?

Oh, but, the big beating heart of DRAWN is the love story between Michelle and the medieval ghost, Christopher. His archaic, beautiful language places us in a magical era long ago full of knights, royalty, honor, love, and treachery. Michelle grounds us in the here and now, but she herself is not grounded. As the stakes rise and time runs out to save Christopher, her world begins to crumble as she fades in and out between centuries. It’s as if she is the only one to change his fate. In doing so she changes her own.

The end of DRAWN will grab you and not let go. No spoilers here, but somehow I knew it had to end that way in order for Michelle’s and Christopher’s story to be complete. Whether they remain together or not, their love is timeless and remains forever in the heart of Michelle – and this reader.

DRAWN is a romantic, historic captivating tale filled with danger, mystery, friendship, and love wrapped up with a delicious paranormal twist. A unique, must-read you won’t find anywhere else....more

There are so many things I liked about this book. It was original in so many ways, especially with the time travel. Michelle's an artist and when she starts drawing a picture of a sexy man with piercing glow-stick green eyes dressed like someone right out of the history books she finds herself thrown into a different century. She comes face to face with Christopher Newman a warrior fighting in the War of Roses. I love that time frame in history so it was great to be a part of it in this book. BuThere are so many things I liked about this book. It was original in so many ways, especially with the time travel. Michelle's an artist and when she starts drawing a picture of a sexy man with piercing glow-stick green eyes dressed like someone right out of the history books she finds herself thrown into a different century. She comes face to face with Christopher Newman a warrior fighting in the War of Roses. I love that time frame in history so it was great to be a part of it in this book. But we don't only spend time in a different century but we experience the hardships of a teenager today. Michelle moves with her dad from New Jersey to England. She's trying to start new and not be the freak girl anymore. She's dealing with family issues because her extravagant psychic mother abandoned her and her dad, and her brother is in a mental hospital back home. These are all issues that are hard for anyone to deal with so you really feel for Michelle. When the richest most popular boy William starts pursuing her you'd think it would be a good thing, but not for Michelle since Constance William's x-girlfriend starts digging into Michelle's past. Michelle has to figure out why she keeps coming into contact with Christopher Newman from the past and where she belongs in the future. It's a great read and you really feel for all the characters. I'd recommend this book for not only teenagers but all ages who like a wonderful book that is original and grabbing....more

Michelle DeFreccio, an American teenager just moved to England, is a talented and sensitive artist. Her father has started teaching at an upscale English academy, which Michelle now attends. She hopes to start over without the baggage of her past, namely her "psychic" mother and schizophrenic brother and the label De-Freak-O.

But life in England has its own challenges. As an American, she's not always sure how to navigate the social divide within her school. More troubling are the pictures she fMichelle DeFreccio, an American teenager just moved to England, is a talented and sensitive artist. Her father has started teaching at an upscale English academy, which Michelle now attends. She hopes to start over without the baggage of her past, namely her "psychic" mother and schizophrenic brother and the label De-Freak-O.

But life in England has its own challenges. As an American, she's not always sure how to navigate the social divide within her school. More troubling are the pictures she finds herself sketching of a young man in Medieval garb, a young man named Christopher who refuses to stay on the page. Before Michelle knows it, she is drawn into the past where her presence changes things, not always for the better. Worse, she's in love with a man who died long ago and there's nothing she can do to save him. Or is there? She tries to figure out what happened in the past in order to change things, sometimes with terrible consequences.

I am so impressed by this book. I was utterly "drawn" into it by the great story and wonderful writing. One of the best YA novels I've read in recent years....more

Drawn has it all, 3 guys who are completely different, a castle, ghosts, an Earl who is in a spot of trouble, lest he know it, a girl who has a complicated family and a love that can endure centuries.

Marie has used art in the most wonderful way in this book. Michelle De Freccio is an American living in England. Her mother a psychic/fortune teller, up and left her family, her brother Wayne has some issues and her father can’t afford to lose another family member.

ThenRATING : 4 CHRISTOPHER STARS!

Drawn has it all, 3 guys who are completely different, a castle, ghosts, an Earl who is in a spot of trouble, lest he know it, a girl who has a complicated family and a love that can endure centuries.

Marie has used art in the most wonderful way in this book. Michelle De Freccio is an American living in England. Her mother a psychic/fortune teller, up and left her family, her brother Wayne has some issues and her father can’t afford to lose another family member.

Then there are 3 guys. Roger I really like. I would have liked to know more about him. He has his own thing going on, but he is always there for Michelle. He’s a bit of a cranky pants, but ...read on.

Christopher is a ghost in modern time, but doing his own thing in his time. Michelle draws him and she somehow gets chosen to be a part of his life in parts during the book.

Then, we have William. He is your typical posh prat, then things start to change , he doesn’t want to play by daddy’s rules. We start to see a different, more improved William, a William willing to risk a lot to help Michelle, who wants to help Christopher.

I would have liked to have known a bit more about Wayne, I was curious about some things Wayne said about Christopher and what went on with the voices.

I enjoyed Marie using reference to ‘Back To The Future’, it helped give the reader the idea of what would happen with Michelle being back in Christopher’s time and the things she does to help, could rewrite history.

Marie added a couple great twists to her story, I really enjoyed those. I may have liked a bit more time spent on the end as that fell in to place reasonably quickly. I really liked how she brought her ending about. She satisfied some questions I had and was wondering how it was going to all play out.

I enjoyed Marie’s tale of 2 ghosts, depending on who was in who’s time, and a love that spanned centuries, and the mystery that unfolded. Her use of art in her writing style was really very good. What I mean is the way she sketches, lines and shading, angles etc, when she is describing a scene or a person she uses this type of thing in her words to describe something. It’s like you are getting a clearer picture.

Drawn was an enjoyable read and I wish Marie all the continual success with her writing.

FAVE QUOTES:

With his pale-green eyes fixed on me, he dumps the contents of my bag. "What weapon is this?" He holds up my sharpener. I stick my pencil into the sharpener and turn it a few times. Pull it out and blow on the tip. He squints."What is this?" I narrow my eyes , take my Chapstick from his fingers, pop off the top and coat my lips. "Really dangerous." "This?" He holds up a tampon. "God , enough." I dare to push away the dagger point, grab the tampon from his hand and start shoving things back into my bag. "You're nuts, you know that? Or I am . One of us is, that's for sure."

OverallA fun, historical time travel full of creativity, beautiful scenes, and an engrossing mystery.

First LineI pull the zipper up the back, sealing myself into the dress.

Most Memorable SceneI loved the first time Michelle meets Christopher. Also, Michelle is attacked in an alley and Christopher helps her.

PlotI fell in love with the entire story. I loved learning about Christopher’s time and the political issues that make up most of his issues. Michelle’s brother, while a small role, had a huge impact on me and I loved how his presence is increased by the end of the book.

SettingSet in London, the setting was mostly amazing. The castle that Michelle meets Christopher in is spectacular. And going back in time during that setting? Brilliant. I’m a huge fan of historical books or movies that center around this era of armored knights welding swords.

WritingI had no issues with Marie’s writing. I enjoyed hearing the story from Michelle’s point of view. I loved how she seamlessly integrated the two worlds.

OriginalityI haven’t read too many time travel books and none that had such pure romance and a true mystery element to it. Michelle and Christopher’s relationship unfolds magically. Their first encounter is a favorite scene of mine. I truly didn’t know what had happened! I thought for sure that Christopher was going to be a vampire! With his clothes, his strong frame and the disappearing act he pulled I thought for sure he was paranormal. I was excited to be wrong.

Also, Michelle’s ability to time travel and the way it happens is very unique.

CharactersMichelle is pretty much a normal teenaged girl. She’s in a new school, meeting new people. She befriends a few guys: William, the son of the owner of Wallingford Academy, who plays a decent role in Michelle’s story and Roger Mortley, a not so popular guy but a very nice guy for sure, also plays a big role in Michelle’s life. She’s wonderfully creative at drawing.

Michelle meets Christopher at the castle. He’s a knight, sexy and super chivalrous.

RomanceI always find romances that blossom from time traveling bittersweet. Because I always think, how is this possibly going to turn out good in the end?

Their romance was very beautiful and endearing. I didn’t want to see it end.

Title/Cover BonusThe title is just fine, however, the cover, while fitting, isn’t amazing.

EndingI can say for sure that the ending was not what I was expecting but it was perfect.

I was drawn (pun intended) into this book from the first page and couldn’t put it down. I love Michelle. She’s both a typical teen and uniquely herself—talented and liked, but not popular. She’s pretty without being gorgeous. In a word, she’s real. Her worries about making friends and fitting in felt honest without being too angsty. She deals with the strange things that happen to her in a believable way.

I was drawn (pun intended) into this book from the first page and couldn’t put it down. I love Michelle. She’s both a typical teen and uniquely herself—talented and liked, but not popular. She’s pretty without being gorgeous. In a word, she’s real. Her worries about making friends and fitting in felt honest without being too angsty. She deals with the strange things that happen to her in a believable way.

When Michelle is drawn into the past it naturally makes her question her sanity. I liked how her mother’s wackiness and her brother’s disease add depth to her worries and to her father’s, making what someone else might pass off as vivid dreams into something truly disconcerting. The setting is wonderful and highlights the changes from past to present and back in an organic way that make the transitions seem effortless. This story is so deftly created that I was in each setting and could easily “see” Michelle’s art without illustrations.

I enjoyed how Ms. Lamba seamlessly inserts “Back to the Future” references. They compliment Roger’s character, fit the plot, and help explain how changing the past can change the present. They clarify things for Michelle and force her think about what she’s doing and realize by simply being in the past she changes the present. In the midst of her growing affection for Christopher, she has to weigh the risks and possible consequences of her actions to decide what action, if any, to take.

I loved how the book ended. It wasn't what I thought it would be and different than Michelle thought it would as well, but it felt right and was very satisfying. I recommend Drawn to tweens, teens and above. It has the perfect amount of romance, and enough action and suspense to keep the most distracted reader turning the pages....more

The first thing that drew me in about this book had to be the summery. The first few sentences of the summery to be precise. "She’s the artist that finds him in her drawings. He’s the medieval ghost that conquers her heart. And their time is running out."Sounds like my kind of book! I found myself relating to the main character on a number of levels. I like to think of myself as an artist at heart, so when she described her drawings throughout the story. I honestly felt like I could actually picThe first thing that drew me in about this book had to be the summery. The first few sentences of the summery to be precise. "She’s the artist that finds him in her drawings. He’s the medieval ghost that conquers her heart. And their time is running out."Sounds like my kind of book! I found myself relating to the main character on a number of levels. I like to think of myself as an artist at heart, so when she described her drawings throughout the story. I honestly felt like I could actually picture them! I'm a fan of the writing, that's for sure. That's not all I'm a fan of though.. This book reader definitely loved the medieval ghost. I fell for him right along with Michelle! Christopher and his sweet words, his ever so swoon worthy accent, and his sweet words! Did I mention that twice? Of course I did! I loved the passion between the two characters, the forbidden romance, the ever impending mystery that could tear them apart. Loved it all! The mystery definitely had me guessing. For a while there I thought I'd had it all figured out, then I was pretty sure I KNEW, and then I was completely wrong! This mystery keeps you turning pages all the way till the end! This ending, everything leads up to this ending. An ending that left me completely torn. Heart shattered kind of torn! I shed a few tears, I'll admit to that!

We've got forbidden romance, time travel, mystery, deception, heart break, and so much more! All put together to make one truly EPIC read! Five stars from me! I'd reccomend this read to anyone!...more

i was so impressed by this book!! I couldn't put it down.. until practice came along and i couldn't read it but other than than my eyes were glued to my kindle.

This is a story about a girl that has just moved to england. Her mom left over a year ago and her brother is diagnosed with schizophrenia. Things are looking pretty bad but as long as no one knows of her life in Jersey everything is ok. One night at a party she sees this man at the castle and she is drawn to him. They lean in to kiss eachi was so impressed by this book!! I couldn't put it down.. until practice came along and i couldn't read it but other than than my eyes were glued to my kindle.

This is a story about a girl that has just moved to england. Her mom left over a year ago and her brother is diagnosed with schizophrenia. Things are looking pretty bad but as long as no one knows of her life in Jersey everything is ok. One night at a party she sees this man at the castle and she is drawn to him. They lean in to kiss each other and all the sudden he is gone.

The characters were loveable and i guess you could say "hateable". They each had faults and you could see why they were like they were.

There is a mystery kind of thing going on in this book and it's the thing that really kept me reading (and of course the romance). The main character is trying to solve the murder mystery of an earl that lived 600 years ago through out the novel. I wasn't able to guess the murder plot at all.

The ending *sigh* i loved the ending. You're just going to have to read it to understand why i love the ending.

You really have to give this book a chance because i promise you if you are a romance time-traveling lover (? i guess that's what it is..) then you will like this book. So please read it. It's free on amazon so why not pick it up? It's worth your time! trust me ...more

I LOVED this book. It wa such a breath of fresh air. It was so well written and so entertaining i could not put it down. The story focuses on a teenage artist named Michelle that moves with her father to a small town in England. While there she undergoes a series of encounters involving a medieval castle and the history that surrounds it and the town.

Whay i really liked about this book was that it was believable. I thought the chI recieved this book for free from a Goodreads First reads Givaway.

I LOVED this book. It wa such a breath of fresh air. It was so well written and so entertaining i could not put it down. The story focuses on a teenage artist named Michelle that moves with her father to a small town in England. While there she undergoes a series of encounters involving a medieval castle and the history that surrounds it and the town.

Whay i really liked about this book was that it was believable. I thought the characters were very well crafted and each had there own particular voice and personality. I also felt that there reactions to the circumstances that each character undegoes was very true to life. There was no "well this freaky weird thing happened that can no way be explained...but ill just go with it and everyone i talk to about it will go with too and everthing will be just fine."

I also felt the plot was very well crafted. It was both interesting and entertaining and never seemed to drag at any point. I looked forward to reading it everyday and i look forward to reading again and again.

I gave this book five stars for the great chartacers, engaging plot, and the shear fact that its pure awesome! I would reccomend this book to anyone. ...more

Michelle De Freccio and her father have just moved to England and all Michelle wants is to be normal and not be known for having a psychic mother and a brother who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. However she soon starts drawing a knight called Christopher from the 1400’s. As she starts getting drawn into his world, she does not know if this is real or if she is going crazy.

Michelle De Freccio and her father have just moved to England and all Michelle wants is to be normal and not be known for having a psychic mother and a brother who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. However she soon starts drawing a knight called Christopher from the 1400’s. As she starts getting drawn into his world, she does not know if this is real or if she is going crazy.

Drawn is a fun Young Adult read about time travel and a timeless love. It was slow to start but picked up a bit as the book progressed. I wish there was more far-reaching consequences to the butterfly-effect in this book as it would have been more interesting than the little bits seen in Drawn.

I liked Michelle as she is a strong person even though she is an outcast, which makes really easy to connect to. I just did not like Christopher although I cannot put my finger on why, maybe because most of the book you did not know if her was real or not and good or not.

I did not like the ending and wished Lamba would have written it differently. I would recommend this to people who like Timeless by Alexandra Monir. ...more

Overall, I would say this was an awesome book. It starts out a bit choppy but it has a lot of ground work to cover. Soon the excitement of the plot catches you and smooths things out. The author weaves a wonderful tale of mystery, love, and intrigue and gives you bits and pieces along the way until you're dying to know what happens. Great twists and turns take you along as the past is changed and the future is affected. The characters are all wonderful, filling in twoCan I give this a 4.5 stars?

Overall, I would say this was an awesome book. It starts out a bit choppy but it has a lot of ground work to cover. Soon the excitement of the plot catches you and smooths things out. The author weaves a wonderful tale of mystery, love, and intrigue and gives you bits and pieces along the way until you're dying to know what happens. Great twists and turns take you along as the past is changed and the future is affected. The characters are all wonderful, filling in two worlds with real people and making you feel like you're there. The main romance is heartrendingly sweet and will curl your toes. I would recommend this one, and say stick with it if the beginning feels a little slow or hard to follow - it gets better and you'll thank me for telling you to keep going.

Drawn is the perfect triple-entendre of the attraction between the main characters, the adept art-based descriptions of people and places, and how readers are pulled into this historical time-travel mystery.

Marie Lamba's easygoing dialogue and smooth narrative keep you engrossed. Intriguing locales -- a medieval castle; Roman ruins amidst the English countryside, and a presitigious academy -- are made more so by events in multiple time periods, yet the transitions are so well done that you're neDrawn is the perfect triple-entendre of the attraction between the main characters, the adept art-based descriptions of people and places, and how readers are pulled into this historical time-travel mystery.

Marie Lamba's easygoing dialogue and smooth narrative keep you engrossed. Intriguing locales -- a medieval castle; Roman ruins amidst the English countryside, and a presitigious academy -- are made more so by events in multiple time periods, yet the transitions are so well done that you're never confused about when the characters are.

A clever tale about family loyalty in both feudal England and the present day, the ending satisfying enough while hinting at the possibility of a sequel.

Received through FirstReads giveaway..I guess that this is technically a "young adult" book, but I enjoyed it just the same. So many books in that category are just horribly sappy, but this book didn't fall into that trap. Also, unlike most other "young adult" books, there weren't 47 different characters with stupid nicknames. I didn't have to cringe while reading this. And that's something when we're talking about a book that centers on a romance.

Marie Lamba has proven herself to be a very proficient author of realistic young adult fiction, with her first novel, What I Meant... being published by Random House in 2007 and its sequel, Over My Head being much enjoyed by me when I reviewed it for my blog last year. I was intrigued, therefore, to discover that her next offering would be a paranormal offerings. There are no vampires or werewolves here, however. Instead, Drawn explores a connection across the centuries with a romantic interestMarie Lamba has proven herself to be a very proficient author of realistic young adult fiction, with her first novel, What I Meant... being published by Random House in 2007 and its sequel, Over My Head being much enjoyed by me when I reviewed it for my blog last year. I was intrigued, therefore, to discover that her next offering would be a paranormal offerings. There are no vampires or werewolves here, however. Instead, Drawn explores a connection across the centuries with a romantic interest who appears in Michelle's life like a ghost from the distant past.

Michelle is a likeable protagonist, whom readers should find it very easy to identify with. Her isolation in her new home makes her immediately sympathetic and her determination to ensure Christopher's safety is admirable. More importantly, she doesn't fall into that all-too-common paranormal trap of losing herself in order to be with her love interest. She is willing to make sacrifices for Christopher, but will not stand for too many of his dated ideas about women.

Indeed, the best thing about Christopher, in my opinion, was the fact that he isn't just a modern character in historical dress. He does not react to Michelle like someone from her own era and nor is his behaviour modern – especially when it comes to modesty! Lamba prevents him from ever seeming boorish, however, even at his most unrefined, which makes Michelle's feelings for him believable – and will probably ensure he earns a lot of reader fans as well.

For me, however, the most fascinating character was William, son of the town's most influential man. His depiction had so many different facets to it and his nature was so complex that I couldn't help but be intrigued by him. He's never entirely likeable – but that's rather the point! In contrast, I wished that we had seen a little more of Constance. I found her character very interesting and a good foil to William and I would have liked to see how things worked out for her.

With a little help from Back To The Future, Drawn looks at the troubles associated with time travel to the past, in terms of changing the present, but also deals with the difficulties of a a romance where the two lovers' worlds and lives are not just separated by states or oceans, but rather by time itself. While I thought that the novel's ending was possibly a little too perfect (or perhaps that should just be enormously lucky!), I enjoyed the way that Lamba presented Michelle's struggle to balance family ties and romantic love and thought her conclusions were very appropriate.

A clever and enjoyable paranormal romance with a love affair that fans of the genre are sure to swoon over. ...more

I love when a book’s title works on many levels. Marie Lamba’s DRAWN does just that. Her protagonist, Michelle De Freccio, is a teenage artist who loves to draw. Characters are drawn together by romance, friendship, and hate. Michelle and her friends are drawn into a mystery. And the reader is drawn into this book, and it never lets go.

Lamba’s writing is flowing and easy—nothing to trip the reader up and break the spell of the novel. The book starts quickly and speeds up from there. I found mysI love when a book’s title works on many levels. Marie Lamba’s DRAWN does just that. Her protagonist, Michelle De Freccio, is a teenage artist who loves to draw. Characters are drawn together by romance, friendship, and hate. Michelle and her friends are drawn into a mystery. And the reader is drawn into this book, and it never lets go.

Lamba’s writing is flowing and easy—nothing to trip the reader up and break the spell of the novel. The book starts quickly and speeds up from there. I found myself saying, “Just one more chapter.” every time I reached a chapter break.

Michelle, Christopher, Roger, William and all the minor characters are well-drawn (no pun intended) as well. It is not uncommon in novels for a group of kids the same age to act and sound the same, but Lamba avoids that trap. She is able to use class differences and the accompanying differences in speech to delineate the characters, but she also gives each one a personality of their own. What’s more, not a single character is one-dimensional—each one has flaws, strengths, and depths to them. Even the snotty “Queen Bee” girl, Constance, who could easily have been a stereotype, has flashes of a soul at war with the front she puts up.

Lamba also does a wonderful job evoking the atmosphere of the castle, which is almost as much of a character as the people. Haunting and haunted, housing both the grand and grotesque, Blanchley Castle entrances Michelle as well as the reader. The past and present entwine seamlessly within its walls, and what is “real” depends on what side of the temporal divide you are standing on. Lamba’s own experiences in England, and with fine arts, clearly shine through in the detail and solidity found throughout the book.

DRAWN is a fast-paced adventure filled with romance, danger, intrigue, friendship, and humor. Marie Lamba takes what could have been a stereotype-filled sketch of a story and turns it into a lushly detailed painting of life in both 21st and 15th century England. If you’re looking for a book with an engaging protagonist, captivating plot, and paranormal twist, this is for you. Just make sure to clear your calendar first, because once you start, you won’t want to put it down!

First-person present tense telling through the eyes of Michelle, an outcast American girl and recent transplant to a posh private academy in England. After her mother's abandonment and her older brother's struggles with schizophrenia, she feels that she and her father have been given a chance to start over in a place where their 'freak' reputation isn't known to anyone. But that reputation seems determined to haunt herFull Review for RT Magazine - March 2012 edition

3.5 Stars (Were that allowed.)

First-person present tense telling through the eyes of Michelle, an outcast American girl and recent transplant to a posh private academy in England. After her mother's abandonment and her older brother's struggles with schizophrenia, she feels that she and her father have been given a chance to start over in a place where their 'freak' reputation isn't known to anyone. But that reputation seems determined to haunt her, literally, in the form of the castle-dwelling ghost of a young nobleman named Christopher. The bond they form forges a connection between the 1400's and present day, and Michelle discovers that she may be able to alter the past—for better or worse.

Drawn holds an intriguing premise, and a double-edged theme threaded through with luminous forethought. The prose is casual, even playful. And the cross American/British culture made for a flavourful addition to the plot.

I appreciated the consistent rules of interaction while Michelle is visiting the past. For instance: she cannot touch or be seen by anyone but Christopher. And she cannot pick up objects unless they are not being touched by someone—when she does pick up an object, to everyone else, it disappears. There is also a compelling bit of detail about Michelle being able to 'taste' whatever person or object that passes through her. Though the rules seemed slightly different for Christopher—an aspect which was never really explained.

While descriptions are solid, readers may find it a bit difficult to connect to the main character on an emotional level--making it challenging to become fully immersed in the story. For someone who's survived the life of a social reject, Michelle seems distressingly slow on the pickup regarding peer interactions. Even after she's met Christopher and accepted that she is somehow traveling back to medieval times, she remains a bit maladaptive to the cultural and century-gap.

The ending, however, is endearing without being sappy. And there is a resonating depth to the overall message that offers a satisfying degree of closure. ...more

I'm not normally a fan of teen romance novels, but the premise of this one seemed appealing so I picked it up. I almost set it back down again, because at the beginning I wasn't really grabbed by the story and the characters seemed kind of flat. I'm glad I persevered though, because the novel gains in complexity and became quite engrossing by about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way through.

The story centers around a girl who has recently moved to the UK and is attending a new school. Her mother and brotherI'm not normally a fan of teen romance novels, but the premise of this one seemed appealing so I picked it up. I almost set it back down again, because at the beginning I wasn't really grabbed by the story and the characters seemed kind of flat. I'm glad I persevered though, because the novel gains in complexity and became quite engrossing by about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way through.

The story centers around a girl who has recently moved to the UK and is attending a new school. Her mother and brother have psychic (or schizophrenic, depending on interpretation) abilities, and as the novel progresses, hers begin to manifest. It turns out that through her drawings she can open a gateway of sorts to the past where she interacts with an intriguing young man named Christopher. The romance between them is entwined with an interesting murder-mystery style plot line.

The story has several layers running through it, which make it intriguing and complex:- issues of acceptance in a new environment- social issues relating to socio-economic status and privilege- the difference between madness and genuine paranormal power- conflicting loyalties- time-travel, and temporal paradox (I usually hate things involving temporal paradox, but here it's handled really well)

The main character and the side characters all deal with these issues to varying degrees, resulting in complex characters that change and grow throughout the novel (except the aptly named Constance, who is clearly a "mean girl" character through and through).

There were a few nitpicky issues I had with the novel, which combined with the slow start prevent me from giving it 5 stars, but overall it is well worth the read.

When your emotions pull and tug towards that inner feeling of love and commitment it is truly hard to let go. In Drawn by Marie Lamba we find our main character Michelle De Freccio is ready to start a new life away from her private past. A past however, that finds her fairly quickly in this new environment. Michelle has moved to another country with her father, where he has taken a new job as an instructor for the local school that Michelle will be attending. Michelle tries to make friends,3.5

When your emotions pull and tug towards that inner feeling of love and commitment it is truly hard to let go. In Drawn by Marie Lamba we find our main character Michelle De Freccio is ready to start a new life away from her private past. A past however, that finds her fairly quickly in this new environment. Michelle has moved to another country with her father, where he has taken a new job as an instructor for the local school that Michelle will be attending. Michelle tries to make friends, however finds this very difficult. Michelle has a beautiful artistic talent, drawing. Little did she know that her talent would be the beginning of an experience that would carry her through a lifetime. She is drawn to a young man named Christopher, who has a mysterious past. The mysterious nature of his life doesn't stop Michelle, as she is determined to be a part of it no matter the cost. The slow pace of the beginning of the story offers the reader great insight on who Michelle is, however it wasn't until the middle of the story where excitement, thrill and anticipation of more events to occur pushed me to read further. The setting and characters are very realistic, however it's the ending that was a total surprise. The author saved her best writing for last. Honestly, as I read, I knew that it was a good and quick read for any young adult literature fan that enjoys mystery, history, excitement, and love. But the ending showed the strong writing skills of Marie Lamba. So as I look pass any imperfections that I saw along the way, I feel confident that the book as a whole will truly entice me to be on the look out for any of her current and upcoming novels.

At first I was drawn to Drawn by Marie Lamba because of the lovely cover which promised romance, and then the summary of the story itself hinted that this was a time travel, so I knew I was in for a good read. I wasn't disappointed! I don't often read young adult stories, but this story had so many elements that appealed to me. Michelle, the heroine, is an American who comes to England for the first time to forget her past. In many ways she is a fish out of water, learning to adjust to a new a At first I was drawn to Drawn by Marie Lamba because of the lovely cover which promised romance, and then the summary of the story itself hinted that this was a time travel, so I knew I was in for a good read. I wasn't disappointed! I don't often read young adult stories, but this story had so many elements that appealed to me. Michelle, the heroine, is an American who comes to England for the first time to forget her past. In many ways she is a fish out of water, learning to adjust to a new and different culture and Marie Lamba does a great job of sprinkling the story with so many wonderful details of English life so that we too feel like we are going through that transition. Michelle attends school near a castle, a castle she enjoys visiting because she likes to sketch. It isn't long before she discovers that her art serves as a conduit to the past, where she meets Christopher and the attraction and the adventure begins. Marie has done a wonderful job of tapping into that romantic fantasy that many women have--to meet a gallant man from the past. and she does an excellent job of helping us believe that this fantasy is true within the confines of the story. The romance of Drawn is balanced out by Michelle's day to day encounters with her fellow classmates and her struggles to deal with her less than typical mother and brother, which broadens the story and makes it a very satisfying read.

I didn't realise at first that this book was about teenagers/young adults. I was a little surprised to realise when I started reading it, but I still found myself drawn into the world of this book. The characters were definitely three-dimensional and all but one of the bad characters seemed to have more than one side to them.

With one exception, the language worked remarkably well in both the modern times and the medieval time (there was one use of 'okay' by Chr(This review may contain spoilers).

I didn't realise at first that this book was about teenagers/young adults. I was a little surprised to realise when I started reading it, but I still found myself drawn into the world of this book. The characters were definitely three-dimensional and all but one of the bad characters seemed to have more than one side to them.

With one exception, the language worked remarkably well in both the modern times and the medieval time (there was one use of 'okay' by Christopher that made me cringe). The characters' reactions seemed particularly realistic and I got as upset as Michelle did when (SPOILERS) Thomas died (END SPOILERS). Well, not quite that much... but it certainly affected me.

I really disliked Constance, even when she was acting nice. I kind of wish I'd found out what had happened to her at the end of the book. It would have been interesting to see how she'd ended up in the new present. But it was nice to see everyone else... including Wayne. It was a shame about Michelle's mother, though.

Although I did like the ending, I wasn't completely happy with the way everything turned out. I won't say here, but I would have preferred it to end a little differently. Still, it was really good. It was definitely an enjoyable read and I'm glad I gave this book a chance....more

4.4 starsI went into this book totally blind. It had been on my kindle for years, unread. I went overboard with downloading freebies for a while. Don't judge. I've been randomly picking a book by tittle alone and reading them most have been meh reads, this one wasn't.What an amazing time travel, mystery, suspense, love story. This book took me, shook me, and kept me up all night. I was always in the edge of my seat, nibbling on my cuticles, heart thumping, breath rapid, the answer was there just4.4 starsI went into this book totally blind. It had been on my kindle for years, unread. I went overboard with downloading freebies for a while. Don't judge. I've been randomly picking a book by tittle alone and reading them most have been meh reads, this one wasn't.What an amazing time travel, mystery, suspense, love story. This book took me, shook me, and kept me up all night. I was always in the edge of my seat, nibbling on my cuticles, heart thumping, breath rapid, the answer was there just another page, stage. Who was the real villain ? What changes had she caused to the future ? Can they find a way to be together ? The best part is it's not all HEA there are some tissue box moments.. No worries, the end is so good. I never saw it coming. I love this author's writing, she paced everything just right for this reader. There was just enough, of everything to entrance me in her world. Will read this author again asap.One slightly negative point had me going ??? She wasn't a major character I just don't like undone dangling bits. Where is the mother, and what was her story ? I feel like that chapter was dropped. There was a lot of story about her leaving but never an answer. Did I miss something ?...more

Marie Lamba has crafted a world of romance, villains, and a healthy dose of messing with the space time continuum. I couldn’t put this book down

Michelle and her father are starting over in England. Maybe here, no one will know that her brother is a diagnosed schizophrenic, or that her mother is a self-proclaimed psychic. But when Michelle starts hearing voices and seeing visions of a handsome medieval man named Christopher, she fears that she has followed in her brother’s footsteps. It doesn’t hMarie Lamba has crafted a world of romance, villains, and a healthy dose of messing with the space time continuum. I couldn’t put this book down

Michelle and her father are starting over in England. Maybe here, no one will know that her brother is a diagnosed schizophrenic, or that her mother is a self-proclaimed psychic. But when Michelle starts hearing voices and seeing visions of a handsome medieval man named Christopher, she fears that she has followed in her brother’s footsteps. It doesn’t help that the first time she saw Christopher was when she was drawing: his image came to her, and since living in her sketchbook, he has started to take shape, pulling Michelle back in time to his dangerous reality.

Torn between fear of insanity and the intense emotions she feels whenever she’s with Christopher, Michelle must navigate her modern life and Christopher’s ancient one. But when her actions in the past start to impact the present, Michelle is faced with a choice: give up on love or fight to save a man she isn’t even sure exists.

If you’re looking for tension, history, and a flawed cast of characters, you’ll fall in love with Drawn....more

This is seriously the most underrated book that I have ever read. Every time I read it, I always wonder why it isn't a much bigger deal. It's one of those books that is just meant to be a hit. And a movie. It should definitely be a movie. Someone needs to get on that!! ;-)

The author's imagination and plotting skills are phenomenal. I think this is the 4th or 5th time I have read Drawn, and each time, the second I start that first paragraph, I am a captive in her perfect, imaginary world, and I nThis is seriously the most underrated book that I have ever read. Every time I read it, I always wonder why it isn't a much bigger deal. It's one of those books that is just meant to be a hit. And a movie. It should definitely be a movie. Someone needs to get on that!! ;-)

The author's imagination and plotting skills are phenomenal. I think this is the 4th or 5th time I have read Drawn, and each time, the second I start that first paragraph, I am a captive in her perfect, imaginary world, and I never want to leave. I would gladly live in any world her imagination came up with!! It's almost depressing when the book ends. You know that quote by Thomas Helm, "My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter."? That pretty much sums up my experience with Drawn. EVERY. Time....more

I've read other books with similar aspects to the love story (ghosts, time travel, etc) where I spent the entire book worried how this could possibly work out. Maybe because of that, I was expecting a different ending. The ending wasn't bad - I was just a little underwhelmed. I kept expecting another twist and ended up feeling a little saddened even though it wasn't an unhappy ending per say. I was hoping for a sequel but it looks like wishful thinking on my part.

(view spoiler)[ I choose to beliI've read other books with similar aspects to the love story (ghosts, time travel, etc) where I spent the entire book worried how this could possibly work out. Maybe because of that, I was expecting a different ending. The ending wasn't bad - I was just a little underwhelmed. I kept expecting another twist and ended up feeling a little saddened even though it wasn't an unhappy ending per say. I was hoping for a sequel but it looks like wishful thinking on my part.

(view spoiler)[ I choose to believe that the reason Christopher never married or had children is because he was married to a “ghost” who continued to go back and forth in time after the book ended. It’s too depressing to think anything else. (hide spoiler)]...more

This book was so unexpectedly amazing, and I only say unexpected because it was so inexpensive and the cover isn't really promising. So, good thing I'm not a book cover snob lol. The plot was so fresh and new, unlike many other paranormal stories just being recycled and the characters were realistic. They were easy to relate to and not annoying at all. I really hope there will be a sequel, don't get me wrong I love a stand alone novel but this one was so great I didn't want it to end and I alsoThis book was so unexpectedly amazing, and I only say unexpected because it was so inexpensive and the cover isn't really promising. So, good thing I'm not a book cover snob lol. The plot was so fresh and new, unlike many other paranormal stories just being recycled and the characters were realistic. They were easy to relate to and not annoying at all. I really hope there will be a sequel, don't get me wrong I love a stand alone novel but this one was so great I didn't want it to end and I also felt that there was more to the story to be told. The author said she might make one titled "sketch"....more

I really enjoyed this book! The angst of growing up with a "psychic" Mom, a schizophrenic brother, and a Dad who is a teacher at your new school in a foreign country is well portrayed in this story.Deciding to move with her Dad to England after continually being taunted about her family at school, she wants nothing more than to fit in with her new classmates. Peace of mind is the last thing she finds. Join Michelle as she tries to understand the strange mystery man who keeps showing up in her skI really enjoyed this book! The angst of growing up with a "psychic" Mom, a schizophrenic brother, and a Dad who is a teacher at your new school in a foreign country is well portrayed in this story.Deciding to move with her Dad to England after continually being taunted about her family at school, she wants nothing more than to fit in with her new classmates. Peace of mind is the last thing she finds. Join Michelle as she tries to understand the strange mystery man who keeps showing up in her sketches, the young Earl who is suddenly paying attention to her, and the steadfast friend who works at the nearby medieval castle. You're in for a great ride!...more

OK, this is a pretty fantastic book. Yes, I am a bit biased, but while I will admit that I started it because my friend Marie wrote it, I sped through it and finished it because it is a GREAT read! Beautifully drawn characters (pardon the expression) and wonderfully plotted, I am just sorry that it's done! The Medieval historical parts are completely believable and alive and the contemporary segments equally so. I love Time Travel done well almost more than anything, and this more than fulfillsOK, this is a pretty fantastic book. Yes, I am a bit biased, but while I will admit that I started it because my friend Marie wrote it, I sped through it and finished it because it is a GREAT read! Beautifully drawn characters (pardon the expression) and wonderfully plotted, I am just sorry that it's done! The Medieval historical parts are completely believable and alive and the contemporary segments equally so. I love Time Travel done well almost more than anything, and this more than fulfills its promise! What are you waiting for...? Start reading!!!...more

It was awesome...until the end. I HATED the ending. The whole story was great, I really liked the link to historical happenings, but I did not appreciate the way she wrapped up the love story portion. It's just my opinion, but after all that happened to the main characters, I really wanted then to have the HEA. Not sure if I want to read another of her stories if they will also pull me in, then let me down in the last 3 pages :(

Marie is the author of YA novels including WHAT I MEANT... (Random House), OVER MY HEAD and DRAWN. Btw, DRAWN is about an artist who falls for a medieval ghost with a sketchy past (attention Outlander fans out there!). Marie's debut picture book, GREEN GREEN: A COMMUNITY GARDENING STORY, co-authored with Baldev Lamba and illustrated by Sonia Sanchez (Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan) is all about hoMarie is the author of YA novels including WHAT I MEANT... (Random House), OVER MY HEAD and DRAWN. Btw, DRAWN is about an artist who falls for a medieval ghost with a sketchy past (attention Outlander fans out there!). Marie's debut picture book, GREEN GREEN: A COMMUNITY GARDENING STORY, co-authored with Baldev Lamba and illustrated by Sonia Sanchez (Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan) is all about how kids can make our world more green. Marie's hopeful and colorful picture book A DAY SO GRAY (Clarion), illustrated by Alea Marley, comes out in October 2019, just in time to brighten up some gray winter days.

Marie is also a Literary Agent at Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency (jdlit.com) in NYC....more